Just a few moments ago, I asked Bruce Friedrich of PETA for his comments on Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin's article published yesterday defending AgriProcessors. Bruce had only a few moments to scan the piece before going to sleep. What follows are a few brief comments from him [formatting mine]:
PETA: So Rubashkin admits no wrong—amazing.
Rubashkin: Rabbi Shaar Yosuv Cohen’s name was used in his article Dec 2nd - he has already issued a letter retracting his reported comments
PETA: No he hasn’t. He told us, quite specifically, that he does not retract his comments.Rubashkin: These rabbis were approached by a person working for Peta who told them he was a Baal Teshuva, and would like to ask some questions.
PETA: This is not so, and Rabbi Cohen tells us that he never said this; it appears to have been fabricated by Mr. Lewin.Rubashkin: What you actually see is the extraordinary steps taken in assuring the best Shechita in the USA and Canada… The animal is then rolled out to be tied and hung on a rail. This Shechita is actually Halachakly the best there is.
PETA: Wow.Rubashkin: (By the way, Peta demonstrated against the holy Minhag of Kapporos this past Erev Yom Kippur in Crown heights. They tried to make those pious people feel guilty to practice their Religion.)
PETA: Nonsense. No such protest ever occurred.Rubashkin: Finally there is always the chance in any Shechita process, although very rare, that the animal will be able to get up and walk. This happens even when they use the shooting method. You can also see more on this issue by Dr. Levinger in his book on Shechita.
PETA: These animals are fully conscious, and a slate of experts have testified that this should never happen. If the animals were not touched after shechita, and were not moved until dead, this would not happen. We have ample documentation from people who have worked extensively on slaughter lines; they’re horrified by AgriProcessors, compared to their many other experiences of slaughter lines.Rubashkin: FACT: Remember the animal is unconscious within two seconds after the incision. This is considered instantly. You can quote HH dukes of Cornell University in a scientific study.
PETA: I assume he’s talking about Joe Regenstein, from Cornell, who is not in agreement with Agriprocessors on all this. If not, what/who does he mean?
Rubashkin: Agri processors has an independent Humane audit done in February 04 and has passed with excellent marks. It is available on request.
PETA: THIS we would ALL like to see; if such a study exists, you’d think they’d have offered it to the media!